Introduction
The contemporary health care industry is very dynamic, especially for professionals in the nursing practice. This led to the development of a nursing concept called cultural diversity (Starr, 2008). The main contributing factor to the development of this concept is the inefficiency of nursing practices centered on a specific ethic group to meet health care needs of people from other groups. Health care experts argue that nurses that have knowledge about different cultures are better placed to provide quality care to their patients (Rogers, 2008). The concept of cultural diversity in nursing mainly addresses health care challenges associated with patients from different races, ethnic groups, sexual orientations, and religious beliefs. Culturally competent nursing is a concept developed from the Hildegard Peplau theory of interpersonal relations (Starr, 2008). According to the theory, nursing practice entails four phases of interpersonal relationships between a health care professional and the patient. The phases are developing a point of reference, recognition, utilization, and resolution (Rogers, 2008).
Purpose of concept analysis
The main purpose of this concept analysis is to understand the way cultural competent nursing practice can fortify and widen service delivery in the health care sector. Studies have established that globalization has influenced a number of changes in the health care delivery systems across the world (Starr, 2008). For example, demographics of a country like the United States of America have changed a lot since the century.
Due to factors such as increased immigration, the cultural diversity in America has increased to the extent of having numerous minority groups (Rogers, 2008). This has affected the health care delivery system in the country in terms of meeting the demand for human capital. The federal government has to invest more resources in the industry owing to the fact that professionals deal with a highly diverse group of clients (Starr, 2008). Nurses working in the contemporary health care industry have to ensure that they have all the necessary skills that include cultural competency.
Literature review
Understanding the concept of cultural diversity in nursing practice is very important for provision of quality care. Health care experts argue that culture is one of the factors that influence the nursing profession across the world. Cultural competency in nursing practice helps professionals to understand the way cultural groups understand various life processes, perform their traditional healing practices, and their influence on delivery of health care services (Dennis & Small, 2003). Different cultures have their own characterization and elucidation of crucial health care concepts such as sickness, wellness and the best cure practices. Studies about various cultural believe systems in the United States of America established that there are varying definitions of the three health care concepts (Bednarz, Schim & Doorenbos, 2010).
The need to increase cultural competency in the nursing profession has led to introduction of cultural diversity lessons in nursing education. Diversity education is one of the main pillars upon which contemporary nursing practice develop along across the world. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), most nursing students across the country have turned from being traditional conformists and embraced the need to appreciate others (Bednarz et al., 2010).
Cultural diversity is a highly regarded competency in contemporary nursing practice. Experts argue that culturally competent nurses are crucial to the profession because they represent their own beliefs, those of the health care system, and their client’s (Campinha-Bacote, 2002). The American Nurses Association (ANA) has made numerous efforts to create awareness of the concept among nurses. The main focus of the efforts made by ANA has been to encourage people to consider and take up nursing as a credible profession that currently needs all kind of individuals despite someone’s age, race, skin color, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs (Bednarz et al., 2010). Experts argue that a culturally diverse nursing workforce plays a crucial role in ensuring provision of quality care to patients from various parts of the world (Dennis & Small, 2003). A number of models have been developed in the United States of America to aid the transformation of the country’s nursing practice towards appreciation of cultural diversity.
A good example is the Campinha-Bacote’s model of cultural competence that defines cultural diversity as a continuous process of integrating various aspects of the cultural system of beliefs into the nursing practice (Campinha-Bacote, 2002). The conclusions drawn from these studies have a few strengths and weaknesses. The good thing about the conclusions is that they recognize the urgent need for the health care industry across the world to support nurses in this course because it will enhance the provision of quality care to all patients (Dennis & Small, 2003). A major weakness about the conclusions is the failure to recognize that the whole process of making the nursing practice to have recognition for various cultures has numerous limitations.
Uses of cultural diversity in nursing
The concept of cultural diversity is very important in nursing practice. Health care experts argue that cultural competency is used in various ways to ensure provision of quality care. One of the main uses of this concept is to establish the ability of nurses to provide quality care to all patients without being discriminatory (Rogers, 2008). Experts argue that apart from culture, there are other numerous factors that affect the ability of health care professionals to truly care for their patients. They include disability, sexual orientation, and level of education among others (Rogers, 2008). Every patient deserves to receive quality care regardless of the elements that make them different from others. Adaptability to elements that define and make people who they are is very important. In order to avoid such unethical practices, nurses ought to be flexible enough with regard to understanding and respecting the viewpoints of others (Starr, 2008).
This concept is also used to help nurses in understanding the various perceptions that people have with regard to illness and treatment. This involves developing the ability to develop good interpersonal relationships with clients in order to understand their interpretation of the two concepts (Dennis & Small, 2003). Health care experts argue that culture has a lot of influence on the way nurses provide care and the kind of response given by the patient. Therefore, it is important for nurses to have the ability to comprehend how a patient’s cultural beliefs will influence their behavior towards various cure options (Bednarz et al., 2010). Cultural diversity aims at helping nurses eliminate any impediments to the provision of quality care to all patients.
Defining attributes
There a number of defining attributes or standards associated with culturally competent nursing practice. First, there is social justice that entails promoting the principles of justice, self reverence, human distinction, and equality (Rogers, 2008). According to health care experts, one of the most effective ways of ensuring cultural diversity in nursing practice is to have professionals who promote provision of social justice for everyone. This entails the ability of nurses to make the right decisions with regard to their patients, the community, family values, and other professionals in the health care industry (Dennis & Small, 2003). Culturally competent nurses are impartial and act in an objective manner. The second defining attribute of cultural diversity in nursing is critical reflection. This attribute entails the ability of nurses to understand both their cultural beliefs and those of others with regard to their ability to influence health care delivery systems. Critical evaluation also involves understanding and analyzing various assumptions about health care that other cultures have and their impact on patient choices (Bednarz et al., 2010).
Model and alternative cases
Nursing models are very effective in explaining the importance cultural diversity in the profession. They are used to explain various beliefs and values that define the nursing practice. A good example is the activities of living model (Rogers, 2008). It entails the ability of nurses to examine the capability of a patient to continue with his or her usual daily activities after an illness or treatment procedure. This model applies to show that nurses have the responsibility to provide care to patients at all times. In addition, they should do their best to ensure that they are able to regain the abilities they had before illness (Campinha-Bacote, 2002).
The second example is the self-care model, which focuses on using nursing practices to help a patient regain their independence after an illness. This model shows that nurses should allow their patients time to regain their ability to take care of themselves before discharging them or taking them off medication. An alternative case that can be used to explain the concept of cultural diversity is the medical model (Campinha-Bacote, 2002). This model explains various factors that nurses have to consider about a patient during crucial stages such as diagnosis, treatment, healing process, and self care (Rogers, 2008). It shows the importance of interpersonal relationships between nurses and their patients. They help to create an understanding between each other.
Antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents
There are a number of nursing concepts that preceded cultural diversity. One antecedent of this concept is cultural competence education. Studies have established that the initial efforts made by health care professionals towards creating a culturally competent workforce included creating awareness through education programs (Rogers, 2008). Nursing students were taught about cultural competency in school before they were allowed to begin practice.
One of the major consequences of this concept is improved efficiency in the provision of quality health care services to patients. This phenomenon is evidenced through better patient outcomes. According to health care experts, patients who are treated by culturally competent nurses have better experiences and tend to feel satisfied with the service they receive (Campinha-Bacote, 2002).
There are a number of practical referents that one can develop from this concept. First, understanding a patient can improve the efficiency of health care delivery systems. Satisfaction of nurses comes from a successful treatment process and a satisfied client (Rogers, 2008). The nursing practice should be developed with an orientation towards excellent patient experiences. The second referent from this concept is that cultural competency is the future of the nursing practice (Bednarz et al., 2010). Since the inception of this concept, the nursing practice has experienced tremendous growth characterized by positive reviews from patients, job satisfaction, and increase in the number of registered nurses across the world (Campinha-Bacote, 2002).
Conclusion
Interpersonal relationships between health care professionals and their patients play a crucial role in achieving quality care provision. A culturally diverse nursing workforce plays a crucial role in ensuring provision of quality care to patients. Every patient deserves to receive quality care. Cultural competency is the future of the nursing practice.
References
Bednarz, H., Schim, S., & Doorenbos, A. (2010). Cultural diversity in nursing education: Perils, pitfalls, and pearls. Journal of Nursing Education, 49(5), 253-260.
Campinha-Bacote, J. (2002). The process of cultural competence in the delivery of health care services: A model of care. Journal of Trans Cultural Nursing, 13(3), 181-184.
Dennis, B.P., & Small, E.B. (2003). Incorporating cultural diversity in nursing care: An action plan. Official Journal of the Association of Black Nursing Faculty in Higher Education, 14(1), 17-26.
Rogers, R. (2008). Competencies for Advanced Nursing Practice. New York: CRC Press.
Starr, S. S. (2008). Dimensions of Cultural Competence: Nurse-Client Perspectives. California: Cengage Learning.